Therapeutic device



Oct. 12, 1948. H, A R 2,450,935

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed July 10. 1946 I 4 .i- Hfll] llllfl] I 3%? lglh I mm in Patented Oct. 12, 1948 entrepj, qsain'r ts eerrcizi THERAPEUTIC DiivioE" l l v Charles H. Carr, Boston, Mass.

Application July 10, 1946, Serial No. 682,459

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a therapeutic device and its principal object is to provide a simple and efficient device by-means of which a physiotherapeutic treatment may be either self-administered or administered by an assistant to selected parts of the body.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein-- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my new therapeutic device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken on the lines 33 and :l4 of Figs. 2 and 1, respectively; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a modified embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a therapeutic device Which comprises a base member adapted to be seated on a floor, table, bed, chair or the like support, and a cap resiliently mount-ed, as by springs, resilient pegs, or the like, on the base member in superposed spaced relation thereto so that it may be universally rocked. The cap carries a resilient finger which is preferably adjustable so as to suit the nature of the particular treatment for which the device is to be used. The therapeutic device thus provided may be used for treatments embodyingthe application ofdirect pressure, percussion, vibration, massage, kneading, etc., in accordance with the accepted principles of physiotherapy.

In the accompanying drawings which show what is now considered a preferred f-orm.of the device, the numeral I designates a base which may be of wood, plastic, or light-weight metal, the bottom of which may be provided with a friction pad or the like and its central portion is formed with an opening 2 which is surrounded by three small openings 4 spaced 120 apart. The openings 4 receive the lower end of resilient pegs or supports 5, preferably of rubber or the like resilient material, the upper ends of which project into corresponding openings formed in the underside of a cap 6 which is preferably in the form of a segment of a sphere. The cap 6 is thus supported spaced from the base I approximately /4 to /2 inch so that it may be universally rocked relative thereto. The ends of the pegs 5 may be adhesively secured within the openings in the base I and cap 6 so as to prevent accidental separation of the parts.

The cap 6 is formed with a central opening 8 alined with, but slightly smaller than, the opening 2 of the base. A resilient massage finger ID has a pressed fit within the opening 8 so that it may be adjusted and held in adjusted position. The massage finger may advantageously be about 3 inches long and about 1.125 inches in diameter and is preferably made of vulcanized rubber having a durometer hardness of to 40. The upper or operating end of the finger I0 is rounded, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and projects above the cap 6 a distance suitable to the requirements of the particular treatment. The lower end of the massaging finger may project downwardly into the opening 2 with sufficient clearance to prevent interference with the universal rocking movement of the cap 5 and finger l0.

In using the device the point or site of the body to be treated is pressed against the resil ien-t finger l0 while the instrument is supported in stationary position but, if desired, the instrument may be applied by hand; in any case, either the body or the instrument is manipulated so as to produce the desired type of massage, pressure, or other treatment. Although, as above noted, the device permits self-administered treatments, it may advantageously be used by a physician or physio-therapist.

The embodiment shown in 'Fig. 5 is, in principle, the same as that shown in Figs. ,1 to 4, except that in place of the resilient pegs 5 and associated openings 4, I provide an annular member 5 of sponge rubber or the like material which permits a universal tipping movement of cap 6 relative to the base I. The member 5 is preferably cemented to the upper face of base I and the lower face of cap 8.

While I have shown and described different desirable embodiments of the invention, it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various-changes and modification-s may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A therapeutic device comprising a base, a cap, the cap and base having alined openings, means for yieldingly holding the cap in spaced relation to the base, and -a finger made of resilient material having a pressed fit within the opening in said cap, the outer end of said finger projecting from the outer face of said cap and its inner end projecting into the opening in said base with sufficient clearance to permit the cap and finger to be rocked universally relative to said base.

2. A therapeutic device comprising a base having a-central opening surrounded by three openings spaced 120 apart, elongate resilient members having their lower ends disposed in said openings, a cap having a central opening smaller than that in said base and three openings surrounding the central opening and spaced 120 apart, the upper ends of said resi1ient members projecting into the three openings in said cap so as to support said cap for universal rocking movement, and a. massage finger made of a resilient material having a pressed fit in the central opening of said cap, the outer end of said finger being rounded and projecting from the outer face of said cap and its inner end projecting into the central opening in CHARLES H. CARR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,067,979 Newton Jan. 19, 1937 2,249,298 Ratti July 15, 1941 

